IS MESSI GOING HOME?
Nigeria defender Idowu is confident that the Super Eagles will beat an out-of-sorts Argentina side tonight to send world superstar Messi exiting the World Cup as early as the first round, but coach Sampaoli says they will write a new chapter
NIGERIA defender Bryan Idowu says he wants to put Lionel Messi out of the World Cup when his team face struggling Argentina tonight.
Second in the in Group D standings, Nigeria must beat Argentina in St Petersburg to guarantee a place in the last 16, but a point will be enough if Iceland fail to beat leaders Croatia.
Argentina, and star player Lionel Messi in particular, have been heavily criticised after securing just one point from a draw with Iceland and being hammered 3-0 by Croatia.
“We hope this is Messi’s last game (at the World Cup) because as much as we enjoy him as a player, it’s our only chance to go through,” Idowu told a news conference yesterday.
“What is going on with Argentina doesn’t interest me, it’s only important how they play tomorrow, we are focusing on ourselves, because we’re training hard.”
Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr says his team will go out to beat the South Americans because a draw might not be sufficient.
“I cannot give away exactly how we will play, but you will see a combative team, a hard battle against Argentina, we need to win,” said Rohr.
“Maybe a draw could serve us but it’s not certain. We want to win, it could be a spectacular football game.”
Meanwhile, Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli is convinced his team will beat Nigeria to salvage their disastrous World Cup campaign.
“I am convinced that tomorrow we will write a new page in the national team’s history books,” Sampaoli told a news conference, brushing aside reports of mutiny by his players.
“I cannot clear up issues that don’t exist. I am convinced that the team will go out tomorrow with a lot of energy to win the game.”
Argentina forward Messi turned 31 on Sunday as his embattled national team prepared for its next match at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Happy Birthday captain Leo Messi,” the team posted to its Twitter account, along with three photos of the talisman blowing out candles on three birthday cakes. It seemed like a low-key affair wellsuited to the guarded mood of the team, whose match against Nigeria tonight will be decisive. To advance to the knockout stage, Argentina have to beat the Super Eagles and hope Iceland don’t defeat Croatia in the other Group D game taking place in rostov at the same time.
There have been rumours of strained relations between the players and the coaching staff, despite assertions to the contrary by midfielder Javier Mascherano, who plays his club football for Chinese Super League outfit Hebei China Fortune.
At a press conference, Mascherano said the relationship with Sampaoli “is completely normal”. Sampaoli has come under fire since his side lost their second group game to Croatia 3-0, following a lacklustee first game against Iceland in which they drew 1-1. According to Argentinian media, the coach and players have been at odds over Sampaoli’s constant changes. The Albiceleste, who finished runners-up in the 2014 World Cup, are facing the possibility of being eliminated in the group stage.